Table 1 Characteristics of the Three Studies

Aim of the study

To examine treatment-seeking behaviour for fever

To explain treatment-seeking behaviour for degedege, and identify how symptoms and causes related to degedege effect first response strategies

To examine treatment-seeking for fever during farming season

Study setting

HDSS area of Kilombero and Ulanga

HDSS area of Kilombero and Ulanga

HDSS area of Kilombero and Ulanga

Sample size

80

129

29

Sampling procedure

A total number of 318 households were random-sampled from the registered 16,220 households in the DSS villages. Only households with at least one under five years of age child were included in the study. Of all 318 households, 58 under five years of age households reported a fever episode in the past 14 days.

In Ifakara town, a two stage random sampling of 223 households was performed. Of all 329 ten-cell leaders, a random sample of 35 ten cell leaders were visited to obtain a complete list of their ten cells. Six households per each ten-cell were randomly sampled. Only 22 households with children under five years of age met the selection criteria.

129 Degedege cases were continuously extracted from DSS records between November 2004 to March 2006 and followed up for an EMIC interview

Ten out of 25 HDSS villages were randomly selected. A two stage random sample of 159 households was drawn in proportion to the relative size of the village. Altogether 100 households were eligible, but only 29 households included children under five years of age who had recovered from a recent fever episode. These households were therefore followed for an EMIC interview on monthly basis

Study respondents

Caretakers of children under five years of age

Caretakers of children under five years of age

Caretakers of children under five years of age

Interviewers

ACCESS and HDSS Staff

ACCESS Staff

ACCESS Staff